Why All of You Are Awesome

I'm not very good at feelings. Generally, the mere hint of a conversation that's gearing up towards discussions about "feelings" is enough to send me running for the hills.

However, I've been thinking a lot about why I like Goodreads so much, and yes, while the shelves and the giveaways and the author features are nice, Goodreads isn't as responsible for their awesomeness as they'd like to think.

No, the main reason Goodreads is awesome is because of the people who use the site.

One of the hazards of being an author is that you become a little (or a lot) egocentric. Because however much you may love reading, it's your own books that pay the bills. So you spend a lot of time making teasers, writing blog posts, and creating giveaways in order to sell more books.

Part of the reason I continue to review is because I don't want to forget the reasons why I became a writer in the first place. One of those reasons is because I loved reading. Love it with a passion.

The other reason, and one I probably don't talk about enough, is because of my friends and fans.

I don't like my writing.

I think I've said this before. And nobody ever seems to believe me -- but it's true. I hate my writing. And I go through cycles where I can't write anything at all because the despair that I'll never be good enough is so great.

But my friends and readers encouraged me when nobody else would. Back on Fictionpress, it was my readers who suggested that I was good enough to publish for real. It's my readers who do all these amazing blog posts and interviews, who create teasers and write reviews that are so wonderful and positive that I almost want to cry. It's my readers who lend my books to their friends and donate my books to their local libraries.

It's my readers who make me an author.

I also love the reviewers on this site. It's such a tightly knit network of people who love books and love talking about books. I love that no matter which hour of the day it is, I can log on, and someone, somewhere in the world is down for a chat about books, or language, or geeky things, or hot K-drama actors.

I love Goodreads because it is full of the people who remind me why I love reading and why I love writing. I love Goodreads because everyone on here is just so strong and opinionated and intellectual and wonderful and, well, awesome.

Mostly, though, I think I just love you guys.

I don't think I say that enough, but I do. And I feel so so lucky to count you all as friends, readers, followers, and what have you. So thank you!